Hiraya (HEST #1)

Kabanata 39

Antagonist's Tale XXXIX: Italy & the Street Lamp

Lost things find their way back.

Whether it's a movie ticket you and your friends watched years ago, a petal tuck in between the pages of your old book, or a drawing on a scratch paper made in the middle of a boring class---the things you lost before that appeared during a random day of moving things.

Things you didn't even bother remembering before that precise moment you reconciled with it again. The piece of past against the fingertips of your present.

I wonder if all my lost things will somehow find their way back into me?

Or perhaps, like everything in my life, that's too much to ask for.

Naghahabol pa rin ng hininga habang nakatayo noong sinandal ko ang likod ng ulo sa kaniyang matigas na dibdib. My chest's rising and falling. Ang kaniyang mga braso'y nakapalupot sa aking bewang mula sa likod. 

Aking itinaas ang ulo habang nakasandal sa kaniyang dibdib upang sulyapan siya. He looked down and caught my stare.

"Welcome to Italy?" My voice was womanly as I smirked.

"Welcome back," tango ni Seraphiel pabalik.

Gabi na noong tuluyang bumaba ang aming eroplano sa Italya.

After cleaning up in the hotel, we hit the streets. It was already late at night, but the streets of the city are still full of people. Ten thirty and some are just starting their dinner.

"Vieni di nuovo, signora," magalang na paalam ng manager noong lumabas kami mula sa boutique.

Ang hawak na paperbag ni Seraphiel na aking kakabili ay inabot niya sa aming mga tauhan sa labas. Kinuha nang isa iyon habang hawak-hawak pa ang ilang mga malalaking paperbag. Ang mga iba ay mga nagtataasang kahon na nakapatong sa isa't isa ang hawak.

Seraphiel languidly place his hand at the small of my back as we walk.

"Where to next?" tanong niya sa akin. His thumb circling on my back softly.

"Well," I pursued lips. Lumingon ako sa kaniya at tumigil sa paglalakad. Sinignolo ko ito gamit ang mga kamay na lumapit. His tall back crouched down with a questioning look in his eyes.

I leaned towards his ear. Bahagya akong napangisi.

"I'm running low on a certain clothing piece since someone has a bad habit of ripping them apart. . ."

Lumayo ako at inosente siyang tinignan. I saw how a smile almost played on his lips, but he suppressed it ruthlessly.

"I see," baritono ang kaniyang pabulong na tugon.

I beamed and we went straight ahead to the store.

Tinaas ko ang isang lacy panty at pinag-aralan.

"How about this?"

Linipat ni Seraphiel ang tingin sa aking hawak.

"It's nice."

Ang kaniyang kamay ay nakapalupot sa kabuuan ng aking likod at bewang. His hand isn't even just resting on my waist but on my stomach. Kaswal niyang mas inusog ako papalapit sa kaniya at mas pinalupot.

"Iyon lang mga komento mo kanina pa. Give me a more in depth observation."

Nagbuntong hininga siya at bumaba upang ilebel ang kaniyang ulo sa gilid ng akin. Ang kaniyang mga braso ay pareho nang nakapalupot sa akin ngayon.